'Old Fossil' COBOL programmer passes SCJP 5

So I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Enough, anyway, to (barely) pass (65%) the toughest test I've ever faced.

After a time away from the industry, I wanted to get back in--only on the Java side of things. I did have 1 1/2 years with Java and Struts before I left, but when employers saw my history with pre-object-oriented (a.k.a. ancient) languages and methods, no one was interested. I figured getting certified would get me in the door somewhere, so that's what I did.

My study tools included mostly the K & B book and the Sun mock exams ($75, and well worth it for me).

Ha ha, thanks Bert! I'm just surprised someone else is brave enough to admit they used that common business-oriented language!

Nik Arora

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Posts: 652

posted 9 years ago

Congrats..............................................

anil kumar

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Posts: 447

posted 9 years ago

Congrats....

Vassili Vladimir

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Posts: 1585

posted 9 years ago

Congrats

Vassili ...
SCJP 5.0, SCWCD 1.4, SCJA 1.0

Joe Wolfe

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Posts: 87

posted 9 years ago

Well done.

I wrote my first computer program in 1972. You old fossil you.

Yes they look at age and background and say you are not qualififed for new software technologies. bha.

At one interview the girl kept repeating the same phrase, we have no entry level jobs for programming. BHA! over 25 years is not entry level. I started talking to her and she was right out of college, first job, and interviewing for employees. I would not let someone with no experience select people for my company. Now thats crazy. She kept repeating, we have no entry level jobs for programming.

They cannot say we don't hire old faxts.

You may be right they see the older technologies and immediately reject you as a potential employee. Somehow the more experience you have the worse it is.

As you I am persuing the JAVA path. I was a DBA at NIH for 6 years but decided to go with JAVA rather than Oracle. Well that was a mistake but here I am. I think I could test out today but I want a good score and to also be sure I know the material before starting a programing job. Just imagine what it would be like if I got fired from my first JAVA job. NO ONE would ever hire me again.

SCJP 1.4, SCWCD 1.4 - Hints for you, Certified Scrum Master
Did a rm -R / to find out that I lost my entire Linux installation!

Rogerio Kioshi

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Posts: 690

posted 9 years ago

Congratulations!!

I work in a consulting group which develops many systems using Java + Cobol. So, connecting Java to Cobol gave more opportunities to Cobol programmers. But the areas are different: people who work with Cobol just only know Cobol, and Java developers only do what is concerned to them.

Knowing both technologies certainly will give you a plus in your career.